# US 7,635,348 B2 · Container for medicament automatic injector and automatic injector adapted therefor

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- Number: US 7,635,348 B2
- Document ID: US7635348B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/978,827
- Filed: 2004-11-02
- Published: 2005-07-07
- Granted: 2009-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2003-11-04
- Assignees: Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Sophie Rebecca Raven; Matthew Egerton Young; Paul Greenhalgh; Stephen Pilip Kirkwood; Colin James Mathews; Joseph William Daintrey; John G. Wilmot
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7635348B2

## CPC

- A61M 5/3202: {Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps (A61M5/50 takes precedence; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001)}
- A61M 5/002: {Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. packages for syringes or needles or kits for diabetics}
- A61M 5/50: having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile {(retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321)}
- A61M 5/2033: {Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion (multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287)}
- A61M 5/5086: {for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile}
- A61M 2005/3284: {Deformaton of needle by deflection or bending}
- A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Containers for automatic injectors and automatic injectors adapted for those containers are disclosed. The containers include structures adapted to retain and, optionally, cripple the needle of the automatic injector when the automatic injector is inserted into the container after use. Depending on the embodiment, an indicator may be included, either as part of the container or as part of the automatic injector, to indicate whether or not the automatic injector has been used. If the indicator is provided as a part of the automatic injector, a corresponding portion of the container may be formed of a light permeable material. The container may also include features, such as an eyelet over the closed end, designed to cushion the automatic injector. Cushioning and shock absorbing features may also be provided inside the container. A clip is also disclosed. The clip is designed to attach two or more containers together.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automatic injector package, comprising:
an automatic injector including:
a housing;
a cartridge assembly located in said housing;
a needle assembly operatively associated with said cartridge assembly; and
an actuation assembly located in said housing, said actuation assembly including a stored energy source and a drive assembly driven by said stored energy source, said drive assembly being operatively associated with said cartridge assembly and said needle assembly to expel a medicament from the cartridge and through said needle assembly upon activation of the automatic injector;
a container constructed and arranged to completely enclose the automatic injector within the container before and after use of the automatic injector, the automatic injector requiring removal from the container in order to be used and having an exposed needle after said use, the exposed needle becoming bent and crippled upon the automatic injector's return to the container after said use, said container having at least a portion thereof formed from a light permeable material; and
indicia provided on at least one of said housing and said container, said indicia being visible by a user when the automatic injector has been placed into said container after use, said indicia pointing to an indicating portion that indicates that the automatic injector has been used.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The automatic injector package of claim 1, wherein said indicating portion comprises an exposed needle visible through said container.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The automatic injector package of claim 1, wherein said indicating portion comprises a movable sleeve carried by the container that is moved to an indicating position by the automatic injector needle when the used injector is inserted into the container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The automatic injector package of claim 1, wherein said housing is made from a light permeable material, and wherein said indicating portion is a member within the housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The automatic injector package of claim 4, wherein said member is a spacer that is moved to an indicating position within said housing after activation of the automatic injector.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The automatic injector package of claim 5, wherein said spacer is provided in said drive assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The automatic injector package of claim 5, wherein said spacer is brightly colored.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The automatic injector package of claim 1, further comprising a needle engaging retaining structure disposed within the container for retaining the automatic injector in said container by engaging an exposed needle of said automatic injector after use.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The automatic injector package of claim 8, wherein said needle engaging retaining structure comprises a resilient member.

### Claim 10

An automatic injector package comprising:
an automatic injector including:
a housing;
a cartridge assembly located in said housing;
a needle assembly operatively associated with said cartridge assembly; and
an actuation assembly located in said housing, said actuation assembly including a stored energy source and a drive assembly driven by said stored energy source, said drive assembly being operatively associated with said cartridge assembly and said needle assembly to expel a medicament from the cartridge and through said needle assembly upon activation of the automatic injector;
a container constructed and arranged to receive the automatic injector therein before and after use, the automatic injector having an exposed needle after said use, said container having at least a portion thereof formed from a light permeable material, the container comprising a needle retainer disposed within the container for retaining the automatic injector in said container by engaging an exposed needle of said automatic injector after use, said needle retainer comprising a resilient member and raised central portions on top and bottom surfaces thereof; and
indicia provided on at least one of said housing and said container, said indicia being visible by a user when the automatic injector has been placed into said container after use, said indicia pointing to an indicating portion that indicates that the automatic injector has been used.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The automatic injector package of claim 10, wherein said needle retainer includes a downwardly-extending guide surface in the top raised central portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The automatic injector package of claim 11, wherein the needle retainer includes a number of protuberances on top and bottom surfaces thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The automatic injector package of claim 1, wherein the automatic injector container further comprises a shield disposed in a bottom portion of the container.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The automatic injector package of claim 13, wherein the shield further comprises an upwardly extending portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The automatic injector package of claim 14, wherein said upwardly extending portion is an upwardly extending substantially conical portion.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The automatic injector package of claim 13, wherein the shield further comprises a flange portion adapted to prevent the needle from escaping an area of the container body enclosed by the shield.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The automatic injector package of claim 1, further comprising a cap constructed and arranged to engage an open end of said container body so as to be in closed relation therewith.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The automatic injector package of claim 1, wherein the container body is longer than a length of the automatic injector with the needle of the cartridge and needle assembly in an extended position.

### Claim 19

A container for receiving therein an automatic injector, the container comprising:
an open end;
one or more interior walls forming a hollow interior sized and configured to receive an automatic injector through the open end;
a closed end opposite the open end;
a cap constructed and arranged to releasably engage the open end so as to releasably close the open end, wherein the interior walls, the closed end, and the cap releasably engaging, the open end completely enclose an automatic injector within the hollow interior between the cap and the closed end;
a needle retainer mounted within the container proximate the closed end; and
a shield mounted within the container between the needle retainer and the closed end of the container, the shield operative to prevent penetration there through by an exposed needle of an automatic injector.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The container of claim 19, wherein the shield is formed of a penetration resistant plastic.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The container of claim 19, wherein the shield further comprises an upwardly extending portion.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The container of claim 21, wherein said upwardly extending portion is an upwardly extending substantially conical portion.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The container of claim 19, wherein the shield is formed of a metal.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The container of claim 19, wherein the container is formed of a light permeable material.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The container of claim 19, further comprising
an indicator sleeve mounted within a portion of the container, a lower portion of the indicator sleeve comprising the needle retainer; and
a cover sleeve movably mounted between the indicator sleeve and walls of the container, a needle-contacting surface of the cover sleeve extending below the lower needle retainer portion of the indicator sleeve;
wherein when the automatic injector is replaced in the container, the extended needle of the automatic injector advances through the lower needle retainer portion of the indicator sleeve, contacts the needle-contacting surface of the cover sleeve, and forces the cover sleeve to move, thereby making the indicator sleeve visible through the container.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The container of claim 19, wherein the closed end of the container is outwardly rounded.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The container of claim 26, further comprising an eyelet disposed over the closed end of the container, the eyelet covering at least 20% of the closed end.

### Claim 28 (depends on 19)

The container of claim 19, further comprising anti-roll protrusions provided on an exterior surface thereof.

### Claim 29 (depends on 19)

The container of claim 19, further comprising a flange provided proximate to the open end of the container at a location corresponding to the fully engaged position of the cap.

### Claim 30 (depends on 19)

The container of claim 19, further comprising a vent opening in the container.

### Claim 31 (depends on 19)

The container of claim 19, wherein the needle retainer includes one or more vents.

### Claim 32 (depends on 19)

The container of claim 19, further comprising a recessed portion on an exterior surface thereof.

### Claim 33

A method of constructing a container for carrying and storing an automatic injector before and after use of the injector, the method comprising:
forming an elongated body having an open end and a closed end opposite the open end, the elongated body having one or more interior walls forming a hollow interior sized and configured to receive an automatic injector through the open end;
forming a cap sized and configured to engage the open end to open and close the open end, wherein the interior walls, the closed end, and the cap closing the open end completely enclose an automatic injector within the hollow interior between the cap and the closed end;
forming a retainer sized to fit within and laterally across the hollow interior;
forming the retainer from a resilient material operative to cushion an automatic injector stored within the hollow interior prior to use of the automatic injector and to receive and retain there through an exposed needle of the automatic injector after use of the automatic injector;
engaging the retainer with the one or more interior walls proximate the closed end; and
mounting a shield within the container between the retainer and the closed end of the container, the shield operative to prevent penetration there through by an exposed needle of an automatic injector.

### Claim 34

A container for receiving therein an automatic injector, the container comprising:
an open end;
one or more interior walls forming a hollow interior sized and configured to receive an automatic injector through the open end;
a closed end opposite the open end;
a cap constructed and arranged to releasably engage the open end so as to releasably close the open end, wherein the interior walls, the closed end, and the cap releasably closing the open end completely enclose the automatic injector within the hollow interior between the cap and the closed end; and
a needle retainer mounted within the container proximate the closed end but not contacting the closed end, the needle retainer formed of a resilient material operative to cushion an automatic injector stored within the container prior to use of the automatic injector and to retain an exposed needle of the automatic injector after use of the automatic injector when penetrated by the exposed needle,
wherein: the exposed needle becomes bent and crippled upon the automatic injector's return to the container after said use.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The container of claim 34, further comprising a penetration resistant shield positioned between the needle retainer and the closed end of the container.

### Claim 36

A container for receiving therein an automatic injector. the container comprising:
an open end;
one or more interior walls forming a hollow interior sized and configured to receive an automatic injector through the open end;
a closed end opposite the open end;
a car constructed and arranged to releasably engage the open end so as to releasably close the open end, wherein the interior walls, the closed end, and the cap releasably closing the open end completely enclose the automatic injector within the hollow interior between the cap and the closed end; and
a needle retainer mounted within the container proximate the closed end but not contacting the closed end, the needle retainer formed of a resilient material operative to cushion an automatic injector stored within the container prior to use of the automatic injector and to retain an exposed needle of the automatic injector after use of the automatic injector when penetrated by the exposed needle, wherein
the exposed needle becomes bent and crippled upon the automatic injector's return to the container after said use: the container further comprising;
a clip constructed and arranged to attach to an exterior surface of the container.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The container of claim 36, wherein the clip is an S-clip.

### Claim 38 (depends on 36)

The container of claim 36, wherein engaging surfaces of the clip have a radius of curvature different from a radius of curvature of the exterior surface of the container.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

The container of claim 37, wherein the S-clip is configured to receive a pair of containers.

### Claim 40 (depends on 38)

The container of claim 38, wherein the S-clip includes engaging surfaces, one of the engaging surfaces engaging one of the containers and another of the engaging surfaces engaging another of the containers, each engaging surface of the clip having a radius of curvature different from a radius of curvature of the exterior surface of the container.

### Claim 41 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, further comprising forming one or more vents through the retainer.

### Claim 42 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, further comprising:
forming an inner circumferential shelf in the hollow interior proximate the closed end; and
resting the retainer on the circumferential shelf.

### Claim 43 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, further comprising forming a raised central portion on the retainer.

### Claim 44

A method of constructing a container for carrying and storing an automatic injector before and after use of the injector, the method comprising:
forming an elongated body having an open end and a closed end opposite the open end, the elongated body having one or more interior walls forming a hollow interior sized and configured to receive an automatic injector completely therein through the open end;
forming a cap sized and configured to engage the open end to open and close the open end;
forming a retainer sized to fit within and laterally across the hollow interior;
forming the retainer from a resilient material operative to cushion an automatic injector stored within the hollow interior prior to use of the automatic injector and to receive and retain there through an exposed needle of the automatic injector after use of the automatic injector;
forming a plurality of protuberances on the retainer; and
engaging the retainer with the one or more interior walls proximate the closed end.

### Claim 45 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, further comprising:
forming the shield from a needle-penetration resistant material.

### Claim 46 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, further comprising:
forming the shield with a central projecting portion; and
inserting the shield in the hollow interior positioned between the closed end and the retainer such that the central projecting portion points to the retainer.

### Claim 47 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, further comprising forming a central projection extending into the hollow interior from the closed end of the container.

### Claim 48 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, further comprising forming a transparent portion in the elongated body of the container.

### Claim 49 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, wherein the engaging the retainer comprises engaging the retainer with the one or more interior walls proximate the closed end with an interference fit.

### Claim 50 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, wherein the engaging the retainer comprises engaging the retainer with the one or more interior walls proximate the closed end with an adhesive.